A century-old name in global shipbuilding is set to pass into history following a multi-million-pound acquisition deal.

The Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, Merseyside, has operated almost continuously for nearly 120 years since opening its doors in 1903, interrupted only by two brief closures in the 1990s and early 2000s.

However, following the recent acquisition of its parent company, APCL Group, by the Balaena Group for £150 million, the historic yard is to be stripped of the name it has carried to this day and rebranded as "Balaena Birkenhead." The move is understood to be part of a plan by APCL Group to unify the branding of all yards across its newly expanded footprint.

In 1842, William Laird established the Birkenhead Iron Works, a steelworks, on the banks of the River Mersey in Liverpool. The enterprise, which began with boiler-making, merged with Sheffield steel giant Charles Cammell & Co in 1903, laying the foundation for a century-spanning legacy.

Over 123 years, the yard has built approximately 1,350 vessels and provided crucial support to the Royal Navy during both World Wars—delivering as many as 200 ships in the Second World War alone, with the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal among its most notable works.

In recent years, the yard has participated in the construction of the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and earned international renown for building the polar research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough.

In addition to operating the Cammell Laird yard, APCL Group also runs the A&P Tyne and A&P Falmouth yards. This transaction consolidates those facilities with Balaena Group's existing operations in Gibraltar and Padstow, creating a vast repair and construction network encompassing five shipyards and 12 dry docks.

Balaena Group stated that the acquisition of APCL Group means it is building a "Tier 1 shipbuilding organisation" capable of standing "shoulder to shoulder" with major defence contractors, enabling it to "respond rapidly to defence and commercial demands."

David McGinley, Chief Executive Officer of APCL Group, commented: "Joining Balaena marks an exciting new chapter for APCL and all our employees. It not only secures the future of our yards and introduces new investment in digital and green shipbuilding technologies, but also reaffirms our commitment to the communities on the Tyne, in Birkenhead, and in Falmouth. We will continue to work together with the local areas to create jobs, provide apprenticeships, and drive long-lasting prosperity."

Simon Gillett, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Balaena Group, added: "By merging Balaena's vision and ambition with the experienced teams of APCL on the Tyne, in Birkenhead, and in Falmouth, we are strengthening the UK's capacity to serve the Royal Navy and the global commercial shipping industry, while investing in the next generation of British shipbuilders and engineers."